Justice News

Inmate Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Assaulting and Resisting a Federal Employee

DENVER - A federal prison inmate already serving multiple federal sentences was sentenced to serve an additional 46 months in prison for assaulting and resisting a federal employee, announced U.S. Attorney Bob Troyer of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado.

James Wilson, 36, of Pitt County, North Carolina, was sentenced on March 9, 2018, by U.S. District Court Judge William J. Martínez, who also ordered Wilson to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Previously, Wilson pleaded guilty on Dec. 7, 2017, to one count of assaulting and resisting a federal employee.

According to court filings, on January 2, 2017, Wilson intentionally and forcibly assaulted, resisted, opposed, or impeded an officer with the Federal Bureau of Prisons at the United States Penitentiary in Florence, Colorado (USP Florence). Before being escorted to a lieutenant’s holding cell, Wilson was ordered to stop and submit to a pat search. Wilson ignored the order and ran. Another correctional officer observed a weapon — a cell-made shank — in Wilson’s hand as he fled. After a struggle, Wilson was placed on the ground, where he continued to actively resist. As Wilson resisted, he punched an officer multiple times in the chest. Following the incident, a review of the officer’s polo shirt showed at least one puncture hole over his left breast. The officer’s protective vest, which had several indentations from the assault, protected the officer from sustaining substantial bodily injury.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Special Investigative Service of the Federal Bureau of Prisons investigated this case. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Juan G. Villaseñor, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Clay C. Cook, of the District of Colorado.